A Joe Root century helped strengthen England’s position on the World Cup standings with a simple eight-wicket win over the West Indies at the Rose Bowl.
It was a clinical performance from the England seam attack that set the tone for the hosts.
Mark Wood was their best bowler with 3-18 which included the wickets of Andre Russell (21) and dangerous wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope (11).
Liam Plunkett also made a telling contribution by dismissing Chris Gayle for 36.
Their performance also included a special performance from part-time spinner Root (2-27), who removed the Windies skipper Jason Holder (9) and the destructive Shimron Hetmyer (39). The Hetmyer dismissal breaking an 89-run partnership with the Windies’ best batsman on the day, Nicholas Pooran.
Pooran kept the innings alive for his side and showed fight for his 63, but he was undone by Jofra Archer, who finished with 3-30, in what was the game-changing wicket.
The West Indies could only manage 212 in 44.4 overs.
Due to Jason Roy’s hamstring niggle, Jonny Bairstow and Root opened the batting and got England off to a solid start by putting 95 runs on the board in just under 15 overs.
Bairstow, however, lost his wicket on 45 and the hosts opted to push Chris Woakes up the order, and proved that they possess a luxury all-rounders. He did however lose his wicket for 40, Shannon Gabriel (2-49) claiming the all-rounder’s wicket.
Root was exquisite once again. He scored his second century of the tournament to take England over the line.
This took England to second on the standings.
